According to The Hollywood Reporter, Levinson will executive produce the remake – which will be re-formatted as a half-hour scripted comedy – as well as direct the project.

HBO described the upcoming adaptation as "an ode to the classic film but moving the weapons of mass distraction beyond politics and into business, entertainment and, yes, nonprofits".

In a not-so-subtle nod to the current political climate, it added: "In the 21st century with the tools of social media at their hands, nothing is off limits to a small group of operators when it comes to manufacturing reality. Fake news is so yesterday."